Ataxic Breathing

Ataxic breathing, also known as ataxic respiration, is an abnormal pattern of breathing characterized by complete irregularity in breathing marked by irregular pauses and increasing periods of apnea, or moments when a patient ceases to breathe. It can often be a symptom of Ataxic Cerebral Palsy.

There are three causes of ataxic breathing or ataxic respiration, which don’t necessarily include the causes of Ataxic Cerebral Palsy. They include one or more strokes, which can cause Ataxic CP. Another cause of Ataxic breathing is trauma in which the patient feels extreme stress for short or prolonged periods of time. The last is caused by damage to the medulla oblongata, or the lower half of the brain stem, which is different from the cerebellum, or area of the brain in which damage to causes Ataxic Cerebral Palsy.